 | | 21 February 1964
Just before I left town I stopped in Dewey's for an order of onion rings, and I was paid a compliment from an entirely unusual source. The owner of Dewey's asked me how I managed to look so good and neat, as though I had "just taken a shower" as he put it. I didn't answer but just thought how glad I am to have been brought up right by my parents. . . .
34
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Self-deprecating passages became more common. Charlie frequently lamented the obligation he felt towards his parents. He blamed himself, quite rightly, for the problems he caused himself, his parents and Kathy. He considered himself undisciplined and lazy, but he also blamed the Marine Corps for many of his troubles.
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Unlike Charlie's writings, which descended into a deeper and deeper depression, Kathy's letters became more upbeat, becoming the only source of cheer in Charlie's otherwise miserable lift. The couple spent an inordinate amount of time on the phone and the long distance phone bills, apparently paid for by C. A. Whitman, piled up. On 11 February 1964, C. A. Whitman asked Charlie to cut down on the calls; his bill for the previous December and January was for $180.
35
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"Last Day on Hard Labor!" It was 25 February 1964. Hard labor usually lasted until 11:00
P.M.
, and now it was over. Only two days later Charlie visited Bernard's Men's Shop and applied for a job. The manager gave him a chance and Charlie sold over $100 on his first night. He got the job and worked a 5:00
P.M.
to 10:00
P.M.
shift, but never made much money He wanted to be out of the marines, to return to Kathy in Austin, and to make his own fortune. A few days later, he managed to get himself into trouble yet again, when on 29 February 1964 he was charged with Article 92, "failure to obey a lawful order," when he failed to carry his rifle on a hike. Finally, good news came from Lake Worth:
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| | I was given a message to call home to Fla [sic] immediately I thought something was wrong with someone health
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